Sorting machine



May 27, 1930. H. 'c. KENDALL SORTING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 ORNEYS Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY C. KENDALL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T REX PAPER COMPANY,

OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN J SORTING MACHINE Application filed April 21,

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a machine for inspecting and sorting sheets of paper which is of large capacity and may be operated with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

Second, to provide amachine having these advantages in which'the sheets of paper or the material handled may be sorted and delivered without injury.

Third, to provide a machine having these advantages which is very simple in its parts and of large capacity.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. a

A structure embodying the featuresof my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my improvements as I have adapted the same for the sorting of sheets of paper, theinspecting conveyor and the piling boxes being partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view partially in section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a supporting frame consisting of pedestals 1 and 2 connected by suitable cross members as 3. 0 The sheets of paper are delivered or carried into the machine by means of a conveyor designated generally by the numeral 4 and having a plurality of conveyor belts 5 supported at their rear ends by the roller 6.

Mounted on the pedestals 1 at the rear of this inspecting conveyor is a pair of coacting feed rollers 7 and 8 positioned to receive the sheets from the inspecting conveyor. Guide fingers 9 carried by the cross bar 10 are provided so that the sheets are guided into the feed rollers. The upper feed roller 8 has bearings 11 fioatingly mounted in the pedestal and held under tension by the springs 12.

At the rear of the feed rollers I mount a pair of sorting or guiding chutes comprising adjustable members which are adapted for manual manipulation so that the inspector may adjust the same to direct the sheets into separate receiving boxes or piles according as they may be first or second grade.

1928. Serial No. 271,908.

In the embodiment illustrated these sorting or guiding chutes comprise outer chute members 13 pivoted at 14 onthe pedestal 2. These chute members are disposed in rearwardly diverging relation with their front ends spaced to provide a sheet receiving throat 15 which is disposed at the rear of the bite 16 of the feed rollers.

The forward ends of the chute members 13 are curved outwardly thereby providing an outward flare or mouth for the throat.

The inner chute members 17 are supported in rearwardly diverging relation to coact with the outer chute members, the inner chute members meeting at a point or apex 18 which is disposed in the horizontal plane of the bite of the rollers.

The outer chute members are connected by the side pieces 19 which are connected by the pivots 20 to the up-turned ears 21 on the cross bars 22. These bars 22 are connected to the outer sides of the outer chute members.

A rockshaft 23 is mounted on brackets 24 projecting from the front pedestals 1 and is disposed between the inner chute members 17 This rockshaft is provided with arms 25 which are connected by the pivots 26 to the connecting side pieces 19 of the outer chute members.

The actuating lever27 is pivoted at 28 on a forwardly projecting bracket29 which is positioned so that the operator may stand at the side of the inspecting conveyor. The arm 30 of the actuating lever is connected by the link 31 to an arm 32 on the rockshaft 23.

With the parts thus arranged the operator shifts the outer chute members 13 thereby selectively guiding the sheets to the sorting chutes. Atthe rear of these chutes are coacting pairs of delivery rollers 33 and 34:, the rollers 34 being provided with pressure springs 35. The sheets are delivered by these rollers to the piling boxes 36 or other means may be provided to receive the sheets from the delivery rollers.

I have not shown the driving means for the feed and delivery rollers as it is believed suitable driving means will be readily supplied by those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as I believe this disclosure will enable the embodiment or adaptation of my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination or an inspecting conveyor, c'oacting feed rollers to which the sheetsare delivered by said inspecting conveyor, sorting chutes comprising rearwardly diverging outer chute members pivot-ally supported at their rear ends and having outwardly curved forward ends disposed in spaced relation providing a forwardly flaring throat positioned at the rear of the bite of said feed rollers, coacting rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed with their forward ends meeting in alinement with the bite of said feed rollers and in spaced relation thereto, side pieces pivotally connected. to said outer chute members, a roclcshatt disposed transversely between said inner chute memhers and provided with arms pivotally connected tosaid side pieces whereby said outer chute members may be simultaneously shifted relative to said inner chute members for selectively directing the sheets discharged by the said feed rollers, and coact-ing pairs of delivery'rollers disposed at the rear ends of said chutes to discharge the sheets therefrom.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inspecting conveyor, coacting feed rollers to which the sheets are delivered by said inspecting conveyor, sorting chutes comprising rearwardly diverging outer chute members pivotally supported at their rear ends, coacting rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed with their forward ends meeting in alinement with the bite of said feed rollers and in spaced relation 7 thereto, side pieces pivotally connected to said outer chute members, a rockshaft disposed transversely between said inner chute members and provided with arms piv'otally connected to said side pieces whereby said outer chute members may be simultaneously shifted relative to said inner chute members for selectively directing the sheets discharged by the said feed rollers, and coacting pairs or delivery rollersjdisposed at the rear ends of said chutes to discharge the sheets therefrom.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inspecting conveyor, coacting feed rollers to which the sheets are delivered by said inspecting conveyor, sorting chutes comprising rearwardly diverging outer chute members pivotally supported at their rear ends and having outwardly curved forward ends disposed in spacedrelation providing a forwardly flaring throat positioned at the rear of the bite of said feed rollers, coacting rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed with their forward ends meeting in alinement with the bite of saidfeed rollers and in spaced relation ther e* to, means for simultaneously shifting said outer chute members relative to said inner chute members for selectively directing the sheets dischargedby the said feed rollers, and coacting pairs of delivery rollers disposed at the rear ends of said chutes to discharge the sheets therefrom.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of an inspecting conveyor, co-

acting feed rollers to which the sheets are so delivered by said inspecting conveyor,jsort ing chutes comprising rearward y diverging outer chute members pivotally supported at their rear ends, coa'cti'ng rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed 3 with their forward ends meeting in alinement with the biteolf said feed roller and in spaced relation thereto, means for 'simultaneously shifting said outer chute members relative to said inner chute members for se- '90 lectively directing the sheets discharged by the said feed rollers, and 'co'acting pairs of delivery rollers disposed at the rear ends of said chutes to discharge the sheets therefrom. I

I 5. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of coacting feed rollers, chutes comprising rearwardly diverging outer chute members pivotally mounted at th'e'ir rear ends and having outwardly curved forward ends disposedfin spaced relation pro- Viding a forwardly flaring throat portion at the rear of the bite of said feed rollers ceacting rearwa'rdly diverging inner chute. members disposed with their forward ends in alinement with the bite of said feed rollers, side pieces pivotally connected to said outer chute members, and a rockshaft provided with arms ,pivotally connected to said side pieces whereby said outer chute membersmay'i be simultaneously shifted relative to said in her chute members and selectively directing the sheets discharged by said feed rollers.

6. In amachine of the class described, the. combination of coac'ting feed rollers, chutes comprising rearwardly diverging outer chute members pivotally mounted at their rear ends and having outwardly curved forward ends disposed inspaced relation 'pro-., viding a forwardly flaring throat portion at the rear of the bite of said feed rollers, co acting rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed with their forward ends in alinement with the bite of said feed roll-if ers said throat portion of said chute members being in advance of the front end of the inner chute members, and means for simultaneously adjusting said outer chutem'einhers relative to said inner chute members.

7. In a machine or the class described, "the in combination of coacting feed rollers, chutes comprising rea-rwardly diverging outer chute members pivotally mounted at their rear ends, coacting rearwardly diverging inner chute members disposed with their forward ends in alinement with the bite of said feed rollers, the forward ends of said outer chute members projecting beyond the forward ends of the inner chute members and providing a guiding throat, and means for simultaneously adjusting said outer chute members relative to said inner chute members.

8. In a sorting machine, the combination of delivery means sorting chutes disposed at the rear thereof and comprising outer chute members pivotally supported at their rear ends and spaced at their forward ends to provide a throat to receive the material from said feed means coacting inner chute members disposed with their forward ends in alinement with and in spaced relation to said feed means, the forward ends of said outer chute members projecting beyond the forward ends of the inner chute members, and means for simultaneously adjusting said outer chute members relative to said inner chute members for selectively directing the material delivered by said feed means. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY C. KENDALL; 

